What was once a six-hour trip by road from the city, including a ferry ride, has now been replaced by a 30-minute flight that provides convenience and seamless connectivity for travelers and visitors to Bantayan Island.
On August 28, RP-C 9962, a 72-seater ATR twin-engine turboprop aircraft of King Aces Travel and Tours, made its inaugural flight and took off at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City at exactly 8:08 AM.
It arrived at the Bantayan Island Airport 28 minutes later at 8:36 AM.
The development is a game-changer for Bantayan tourism especially as the regular commercial Mactan–Bantayan flight route is scheduled twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays, to give way for high-spending tourists to reach the island on the weekend and depart for the weekday.
“Amo ning ipadayon kay nakita namo ang dako nga prospect, ang malambuon nga prospect for Bantayan,” said Retired Major Gen. Gilbert, chairperson of Prime Aces Holdings Corp. which operates the newly opened commercial flight to Bantayan.
Governor Gwen Garcia, who attended the ceremony, underscored the strategic importance of the commercial flight which is priced at a friendly rate of P888 only.
“This advancement is crucial for our development as a leading tourist hotspot. By making travel faster and more efficient, we can attract more visitors and bolster our local economy. We are wholeheartedly behind this initiative as it aligns with our vision for growth and accessibility,” the Governor said.
“We’ve intentionally set the fare at P888 to ensure that everyone, including those who work tirelessly to make a living, can benefit from this opportunity. It’s about making travel to Bantayan Island accessible to all,” the Governor added.
Bantayan, a premier beach and island adventure destination in northern Cebu, has attracted an influx of foreign and local tourists to Cebu and is even considered as Cebu’s top tourism drawer.
As such, the Provincial Government is pouring so much resources for Bantayan’s infrastructure development, including the establishment of the Bantayan Island Airport, which sits on a Capitol property; as well as funding the new and corrective Santa Fe Port, which is also eyed to attract cruise ships.
For flight schedules and booking details, send a message to the King Aces Travel and Tours Facebook page.
(𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 2024)